Breaking News

Five deaths in Porirua a 'cluster'

The capital's health board has confirmed a spate of suspected suicides in Porirua, north of Wellington, were a cluster.
Five young people from the Cannons Creek suburb have died since June.

A cluster is a rare occurrence developed due to the number of suicides,
geographical location, and the people's relationship to each other

It can increase the risk of subsequent suicidal behaviour.

In a statement Capital and Coast DHB said it was doing all that it could
to respond to the deaths and it had been working with the community and
mental health service providers since May.

It said this work involved identifying other at-risk youths.

A national service called Clinical Advisory Services Aotearoa, which
deals with clusters, has been set up in Porirua East and funding has
been provided to employ two full-time mental health clinicians across
four local high schools.

"Throughout this process, we have been involved in in-depth discussions
with local schools and providers, to plan an approach to best support
the Porirua community, recognising the number of deaths and the loss
felt in this community," the statement said.

"There are a number of non-government agencies at work in the area and
we are developing a coalition to bring the different teams together who
may be working with people affected by this cluster of suicides."

The DHB is encouraging people to access resources from the Mental Health
Foundation to support conversations with youth and to promote
wellbeing.

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